This is a collection of short stories charting the coming-of-age of a boy just after the end of the second world war. A brand-new housing estate is being built in North Tyneside and a new family takes over one of the first properties to be completed. The 'Geordie Boy' of these stories is the first child of an unlikely pairing between a world-weary, already married piano player cum soldier—unwillingly posted to the North East and many miles away from his own London-based family, and a very young, somewhat prim and naïve nurse who, having become pregnant by him, decides to risk all and try to make a go of things.

The only common factor in their relationship is that they both play the piano, and as the stories unwind from the perspective of the young narrator, it becomes more and more obvious that even though the war has now ended, even though the family has an opportunity to start afresh in their new house and there are so many opportunities on offer, this slow-burning tragedy produces an impossible dynamic for the family to thrive.

The boy seeks affirmation elsewhere—wherever he can—while he observes his parents' continual attempts to maintain their marriage despite their being so unsuited for each other.

He has many adventures, meets many unsavoury people, but I hope that the listener will see that as he develops his own perspective on the world, there is a positive outcome to be had—once the young man has the courage to go for it.